Convergent playback of buffered content to real-time content play

ABSTRACT

Convergent playback of buffered content to real-time content play. A content viewing system is provided including a content player operative to receive a content stream from a content source, a content viewer operative to receive the content from the content player, and a buffer into which the content player may store the received content and from which the player may provide the stored content to the content viewer, where the content player is operative to buffer the content stream to the buffer responsive to a request to pause play of the content stream, and retrieve the content from the buffer for playback of the buffered content stream responsive to a request to resume play of the content stream, thereby emptying the buffer, where the buffer is emptied at a faster rate than the rate at which the content stream is buffered, and the rate at which the buffer is emptied varies.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 11/143,381, filed Jun. 2, 2005, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to playback of audio and/or visual content in general, and more particularly to convergent playback of buffered content to real-time content play.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many Digital Video Recording (DVR) systems allow users to pause the playing of a program during its broadcast. When the user pauses the play, program content is buffered to memory or another storage device. When the user wishes to resume play, the DVR provides playback of the buffered data from the point where program play was paused, typically at a speed that is faster than that of the broadcast program. In this way, once all the buffered data has been played, the user may “catch up” to the broadcast program for continued play at its normal speed and in real time. However, state-of-the-art systems that provide such capabilities transition instantaneously from fast playback of buffered data to real-time play, having a jarring effect on the viewer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention discloses a system and method for playback of buffered content that transitions smoothly to real-time content play.

In one aspect of the present invention a content viewing system is provided including a content player operative to receive a content stream from a content source, a content viewer operative to receive the content from the content player, and a buffer into which the content player may store the received content and from which the player may provide the stored content to the content viewer, where the content player is operative to buffer the content stream to the buffer responsive to a request to pause play of the content stream, and retrieve the content from the buffer for playback of the buffered content stream responsive to a request to resume play of the content stream, thereby emptying the buffer, where the buffer is emptied at a faster rate than the rate at which the content stream is buffered, and the rate at which the buffer is emptied varies.

In another aspect of the present invention the buffering continues until the buffer is completely empty.

In another aspect of the present invention the content player is a Digital Video Recorder (DVR).

In another aspect of the present invention the content source is any of an antenna for receiving broadcast content, a satellite receiver for receiving content via satellite, and a cable for receiving cable broadcast content.

In another aspect of the present invention the content viewer is a television set.

In another aspect of the present invention a method is provided for retrieval and playback of buffered content, the method including buffering a content stream to a buffer responsive to a request to pause play of the content stream, retrieving the content from the buffer for playback of the buffered content stream responsive to a request to resume play of the content stream, thereby emptying the buffer, where the buffer is emptied at a faster rate than the rate at which the content stream is buffered, and the rate at which the buffer is emptied varies.

In another aspect of the present invention the buffering continues until the buffer is completely empty.

In another aspect of the present invention the retrieving step includes emptying the buffer at a rate that decreases over time.

In another aspect of the present invention the method further includes playing the content stream prior to receiving the request to pause play of the content stream, pausing play of the content stream responsive to receiving the request to pause play of the content stream, playing the content retrieved from the buffer from the point at which play of the content stream was paused, and playing the content stream from the point past which the content stream ceased to be buffered.

In another aspect of the present invention the retrieving step includes selecting for playback any frames of the content retrieved from the buffer in accordance with a selection frequency, and increasing the selection frequency from the time when the content is first retrieved from the buffer and until the buffer is completely empty.

In another aspect of the present invention the retrieving step includes dropping any frames of the content retrieved from the buffer in accordance with a dropping frequency, and decreasing the dropping frequency from the time when the content is first retrieved from the buffer and until the buffer is completely empty.

In another aspect of the present invention the playback rate of content retrieved from the buffer decreases in accordance with a predefined function of a given time allotted for completely emptying the buffer.

In another aspect of the present invention the playback rate decreases linearly.

In another aspect of the present invention the playback rate decreases non-linearly.

In another aspect of the present invention a time allotted for completely emptying the buffer is determined in accordance with a predefined function of a given playback rate of content retrieved from the buffer.

In another aspect of the present invention the playback rate decreases linearly.

In another aspect of the present invention the playback rate decreases non-linearly.

In another aspect of the present invention a method is provided for deploying a content viewing system, the method including configuring a content player operative to receive a content stream from a content source, configuring a content viewer operative to receive the content from the content player, and employing a buffer into which the content player may store the received content and from which the player may provide the stored content to the content viewer, where the content player is operative to buffer the content stream to the buffer responsive to a request to pause play of the content stream, and retrieve the content from the buffer for playback of the buffered content stream responsive to a request to resume play of the content stream, thereby emptying the buffer, where the buffer is emptied at a faster rate than the rate at which the content stream is buffered, and the rate at which the buffer is emptied varies.

In another aspect of the present invention a computer program is provided embodied on a computer-readable medium, the computer program including a first code segment operative to buffer a content stream to a buffer responsive to a request to pause play of the content stream, and a second code segment operative to retrieve the content from the buffer for playback of the buffered content stream responsive to a request to resume play of the content stream, thereby emptying the buffer, empty the buffer at a faster rate than the rate at which the content stream is buffered, and vary the rate at which the buffer is emptied.

It is appreciated throughout the specification and claims that references to “content” may include audio and/or visual content, and that references to “viewing” may refer to viewing and/or listening to content.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be understood and appreciated more fully from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the appended drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a simplified conceptual illustration of a content viewing system, constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a simplified flowchart illustration of a method for content buffering and playback, operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and

FIGS. 3 and 4 are simplified graphic illustrations of methods for convergent playback of buffered content to real-time content play, operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Reference is now made to FIG. 1, which is a simplified conceptual illustration of a content viewing system, constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. In the system of FIG. 1, a content player 100, such as a Digital Video Recorder (DVR), is operably coupled to one or more audio and/or video content sources, such as an antenna 102 for receiving broadcast content, a satellite receiver 104 for receiving content via satellite, or a cable 106 for receiving cable broadcast content. Player 100 is operably coupled to a content viewer 108, such as a television set, through which player 100 provides received content for viewing. Player 100 is also operably coupled to a buffer 110, which may be any volatile or non-volatile memory or data storage, into which received content may be stored, and from which stored content may be provided to content viewer 108 for viewing, such as in accordance with the content buffering and playback method described hereinbelow with reference to FIG. 2.

Reference is now made to FIG. 2, which is a simplified flowchart illustration of an exemplary method of operation of the system of FIG. 1, operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. In the method of FIG. 2 content is received in real-time by player 100 and is provided to content viewer 108 for viewing. At any time during real-time content play, player 100 may pause content play, such as when the viewer sends a ‘pause’ command to player 100 using any known means. During a pause player 100 stores received content in buffer 110 rather than provide received content to content viewer 108 for viewing. When player 100 is to resume playing the received content, such as when the viewer sends a ‘resume play’ command to player 100 using any known means, player 100 retrieves the content stored in buffer 110 and provides the retrieved content to content viewer 108 for continued play from the point at which the viewing was paused.

While buffer 110 is being emptied of stored content, content that continues to be received in real-time by player 100 is preferably stored in buffer 110. Thus, content that was stored earlier in buffer 110 is preferably retrieved and provided to content viewer 108 before later-stored content. In order to ensure that buffer 110 is emptied, player 100 preferably retrieves content from buffer 110 at a faster rate than the rate at which buffer 110 is filled. Player 100 then preferably provides the retrieved content to content viewer 108, and content viewer 108 preferably presents the content for viewing, at a faster rate than the rate at which the content was captured and at which the content is normally played. For example, if the normal play rate for NTSC video is 30 frames/sec., player 100 may provide only every n^(th) frame, such as every third frame, of the retrieved content to content viewer 108 for play at an accelerated effective play rate, where the selection frequency n preferably increases over time (e.g., providing every third frame for a period of time, then every second frame, etc.). Additionally or alternatively, player 100 may drop every m^(th) frame, such as every tenth frame, of the retrieved content provided to content viewer 108 for play at an accelerated effective play rate, where the frame dropping frequency preferably decreases over time (e.g., dropping every tenth frame for a period of time, then every twentieth frame, etc.). The rate at which buffer 110 is emptied is preferably not constant, varying from the time when content is first retrieved from buffer 110 and until buffer 110 is completely empty, and preferably decreasing over time. Once buffer 110 is empty, content that continues to be received in real-time by player 100 is no longer stored in buffer 110, but is provided to content viewer 108 as before the pause. Thus, content stream play continues from the point past which the content stream ceased to be buffered. Methods for controlling the rate at which buffer 110 is emptied and at which content retrieved from buffer 110 is played are described hereinbelow with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 3 and 4, which are simplified graphic illustrations of methods for convergent playback of buffered content to real-time content play, operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 3, T′ denotes the time when content play is paused, R_(v) denotes the normal (1×) content play rate, function ƒ(t) denotes the target playback speed defined on segment [T₀; T₁] of content buffered subsequent to the pause. The X-axis of the Cartesian frame provides the time coordinate, while the Y-axis corresponds to the effective rate at which content is played. The points P0, . . . P4 correspond to the time instances T′, T₀, T₁. The vertical location of P1, P2, P4 is defined by R_(v). The vertical location of P3 is defined by R_(b)=R_(b)(T₀), being the starting playback rate of buffered content. The target function preferably satisfies:

ƒ(T ₀)=R _(b)  (1)

ƒ(T ₁)=R _(v)  (2)

and the following constraint (C):

V(T ₁)=0

where V(t) denotes the volume of content stored in the buffer at time t. S2 denotes the area bounded by the points P1, P2, T₀, T′, S3 denotes the area bounded by the points T₀, P2, P4, T₁, and S4 denotes the area bounded by the points P2, P3, P4. In FIG. 3 the values R_(v), T′, T₀, and T₁ are predefined, ƒ(t) is a linear function to be determined, and the value of R_(b) is to be determined. Thus, given that the buffer is to be emptied by time T₁, the playback rate of buffered content is initially R_(b), which decreases linearly along ƒ(t) on segment [T₀, T₁]. ƒ(t) may be determined by satisfying Eq. (1), Eq. (2) and constraint (C). Considering Eq. (1) and Eq. (2):

$\begin{matrix} {{f(t)} = {{\left( {R_{b} - R_{v}} \right)\frac{t - T_{1}}{T_{0} - T_{1}}} + R_{v}}} & (3) \end{matrix}$

Considering constraint (C), it follows that:

V₁=V₂

-   -   where V₁ denotes the volume of the content stored in the buffer         during time interval [T′; T₁], and V₂ denotes the volume of the         content viewed during time interval [T₀; T₁]. It may be seen         that:

V ₁ =R _(v)(T ₁ −T′)

and thus:

V ₁ =S2+S3.

It may also be seen that:

V₂ = ∫_(T₀)^(T₁)f(t)t = S 3 + S 4,

and thus:

V ₂ =S3+S4.

Therefore, condition (C) may be expressed as:

S2=S4;  (4)

For linear function ƒ(t):

S4=(R _(b) −R _(v))(T ₁ −T ₀)/2,

and:

S2=R _(v)(T ₀ −T′)

it follows that:

R _(v)(T ₀ −T′)=(R _(b) −R _(v))(T ₁ −T ₀)/2.

Thus,

$\begin{matrix} {R_{b} = {{2R_{v}\frac{T_{0} - T^{\prime}}{T_{1} - T_{0}}} + {R_{v}\mspace{20mu} {i.}}}} & (5) \end{matrix}$

ƒ(t) may then be determined using Eq. (3), where R_(b) is defined by Eq. (5)

In FIG. 4 the values R_(b), R_(v), T′, and T₀ are predefined, ƒ(t) is a parabolic function to be determined, and the value of time T₁ is to be determined. Thus, given a starting effective playback rate of buffered content along a parabolically decreasing ƒ(t) on segment [T₀, T₁], the time to empty the buffer is to be determined. ƒ(t) preferably satisfies the following derivative constraint at time T₁:

$\begin{matrix} {{\left. \frac{{f(t)}}{t} \right|_{t = T_{1}} = 0};\mspace{25mu} {i.}} & (6) \end{matrix}$

Expressing ƒ(t) in the following form:

i. ƒ(t)=λ(t−T ₁)² +R _(v)  (7)

it may be seen that Eq. (2) and Eq. (6) hold for ƒ(t). Therefore, λ and T₁ may be determined such that Eq. (1) and constraint (C) are satisfied.

By Eq. (1):

i. λ(T ₀ −T ₁)² =R _(b) −R _(v)  (8)

Expressing constraint (C) as:

∫_(T₀)^(T₁)f(t)t = S 2 + S 3,

thus:

${{\lambda \frac{1}{3}\left( {t - T_{1}} \right)^{3}}|_{T_{0}}^{T_{1}}{+ {R_{v}\left( {T_{1} - T_{0}} \right)}}} = {{R_{v}\left( {T_{0} - T^{\prime}} \right)} + {{R_{v}\left( {T_{1} - T_{0}} \right)}.}}$

Therefore:

$\begin{matrix} {{{{- \lambda}\frac{1}{3}\left( {T_{0} - T_{1}} \right)^{3}} = {R_{v}\left( {T_{0} - T^{\prime}} \right)}};} & (9) \end{matrix}$

Substituting the expression for λ(T₀−T₁)² from Eq. (8) to Eq. (9) obtains:

${{- \frac{1}{3}}\left( {T_{0} - T_{1}} \right)\left( {R_{b} - R_{v}} \right)} = {{R_{v}\left( {T_{0} - T^{\prime}} \right)}.}$

Thus, T₁ may be expressed as:

$\begin{matrix} {T_{1} = {\frac{3{R_{v}\left( {T_{0} - T^{\prime}} \right)}}{R_{b} - R_{v}} + T_{0}}} & (10) \end{matrix}$

and λ as:

$\lambda = {\frac{R_{b} - R_{v}}{\left( {T_{1} - T_{0}} \right)^{2}}.}$

from which ƒ(t) in Eq. (7) may be calculated.

It is appreciated that one or more of the steps of any of the methods described herein may be omitted or carried out in a different order than that shown, without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention.

While the methods and apparatus disclosed herein may or may not have been described with reference to specific computer hardware or software, it is appreciated that the methods and apparatus described herein may be readily implemented in computer hardware or software using conventional techniques.

While the present invention has been described with reference to one or more specific embodiments, the description is intended to be illustrative of the invention as a whole and is not to be construed as limiting the invention to the embodiments shown. It is appreciated that various modifications may occur to those skilled in the art that, while not specifically shown herein, are nevertheless within the true spirit and scope of the invention. 

1. A content viewing system comprising: a content player operative to receive a content stream from a content source; a content viewer operative to receive said content from said content player; and a buffer into which said content player may store said received content and from which said player may provide said stored content to said content viewer, wherein said content player is operative to: buffer said content stream to said buffer responsive to a request to pause play of said content stream, and retrieve said content from said buffer for playback of said buffered content stream responsive to a request to resume play of said content stream, thereby emptying said buffer, wherein: said buffer is emptied at a faster rate than the rate at which said content stream is buffered, and the rate at which said buffer is emptied varies.
 2. A system according to claim 1 wherein said buffering continues until said buffer is completely empty.
 3. A system according to claim 1 wherein said content player is a Digital Video Recorder (DVR).
 4. A system according to claim 1 wherein said content source is any of an antenna for receiving broadcast content, a satellite receiver for receiving content via satellite, and a cable for receiving cable broadcast content.
 5. A system according to claim 1 wherein said content viewer is a television set.
 6. A method for retrieval and playback of buffered content, the method comprising: buffering a content stream to a buffer responsive to a request to pause play of said content stream; retrieving said content from said buffer for playback of said buffered content stream responsive to a request to resume play of said content stream, thereby emptying said buffer, wherein: said buffer is emptied at a faster rate than the rate at which said content stream is buffered, and the rate at which said buffer is emptied varies.
 7. A method according to claim 6 wherein said buffering continues until said buffer is completely empty.
 8. A method according to claim 6 wherein said retrieving step comprises emptying said buffer at a rate that decreases over time.
 9. A method according to claim 6 and further comprising: playing said content stream prior to receiving said request to pause play of said content stream; pausing play of said content stream responsive to receiving said request to pause play of said content stream; playing said content retrieved from said buffer from the point at which play of said content stream was paused; and playing said content stream from the point past which said content stream ceased to be buffered.
 10. A method according to claim 6 wherein said retrieving step comprises: selecting for playback any frames of said content retrieved from said buffer in accordance with a selection frequency; and increasing said selection frequency from the time when said content is first retrieved from said buffer and until said buffer is completely empty.
 11. A method according to claim 6 wherein said retrieving step comprises: dropping any frames of said content retrieved from said buffer in accordance with a dropping frequency; and decreasing said dropping frequency from the time when said content is first retrieved from said buffer and until said buffer is completely empty.
 12. A method according to claim 6 wherein the playback rate of content retrieved from said buffer decreases in accordance with a predefined function of a given time allotted for completely emptying said buffer.
 13. A method according to claim 12 wherein said playback rate decreases linearly.
 14. A method according to claim 12 wherein said playback rate decreases non-linearly.
 15. A method according to claim 6 wherein a time allotted for completely emptying said buffer is determined in accordance with a predefined function of a given playback rate of content retrieved from said buffer.
 16. A method according to claim 15 wherein said playback rate decreases linearly.
 17. A method according to claim 15 wherein said playback rate decreases non-linearly.
 18. A method for deploying a content viewing system, the method comprising: configuring a content player operative to receive a content stream from a content source; configuring a content viewer operative to receive said content from said content player; and employing a buffer into which said content player may store said received content and from which said player may provide said stored content to said content viewer, wherein said content player is operative to: buffer said content stream to said buffer responsive to a request to pause play of said content stream, and retrieve said content from said buffer for playback of said buffered content stream responsive to a request to resume play of said content stream, thereby emptying said buffer, wherein: said buffer is emptied at a faster rate than the rate at which said content stream is buffered, and the rate at which said buffer is emptied varies.
 19. A computer program embodied on a computer-readable medium, the computer program comprising: a first code segment operative to buffer a content stream to a buffer responsive to a request to pause play of said content stream; and a second code segment operative to retrieve said content from said buffer for playback of said buffered content stream responsive to a request to resume play of said content stream, thereby emptying said buffer, empty said buffer at a faster rate than the rate at which said content stream is buffered, and vary the rate at which said buffer is emptied. 